The Sun Journal’s editorial published Aug. 27, “Pointless visit to tragic scene,” criticized Maine Gov. John Baldacci for his Aug. 26 “helicopter fly-over” of the Bar Harbor area near Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park, where, on Aug. 23, a young girl perished and dozens of others were injured when waves caused by an offshore hurricane overcame them.

What the Sun Journal did not bother to ascertain was that the governor had already scheduled a visit to a neighboring part of Acadia National Park, the Schoodic section, on Aug. 26. He was scheduled for a tour of the Schoodic Education and Research Center in Winter Harbor and a meeting with environmental researchers, Maine students and their advisers attending classes at SERC, as well as a meeting with organizers and artists participating in the second International Sculpture Symposium underway at the Schoodic campus and a luncheon with members of Acadia Partners for Science and Learning. All that was coupled with a flyover of the vast property (more than 3,000 acres) adjacent to Acadia National Park that has been pinpointed for private development.

That was a pretty full plate for this tiny section of Maine.

Then came the horrendous events at Thunder Hole.

The governor’s scheduled trip to the Schoodic area of the park took a sharp turn, flying over the Thunder Hole area of Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor. The governor and Acadia National Park Superintendent Sheridan Steele addressed the tragic events in a press conference. Then, those two officials, and others, tried their best to go forward from the sorrowful news to the good.

Steele and the governor were flying over the area to get a full overview of their efforts at transforming a military base into an educational and economic boost for the Schoodic region.

Years ago, before the Department of Defense ever discontinued the Naval Security Group Activity at Schoodic, Baldacci (then a congressman), Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, then Maine Sen. Jill Goldthwait and others assisted the towns of Winter Harbor and Gouldsboro — and beyond — with guidance, financial assistance, support, presence and tenacity.

What has resulted so far is a Navy base gone and a recognized science and research center in its stead. What has resulted is an exemplary partnership of private and public: the National Park Service and the nonprofit Acadia Partners for Science and Learning.

Criticize the governor whenever warranted, but don’t take cheap shots. The Sun Journal is better than that. So is he.

Katherine Heidinger, Winter Harbor